Justice News

New Iberia man pleads guilty to sending threatening letters to government agencies in South Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. –Acting U.S.Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a New Iberia man pleaded guilty Tuesday to sending threatening letters to government agencies across South Louisiana, including the governor’s office.

Kyle Dore, 33, of New Iberia, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to five counts of mailing threatening communications and four counts of false information and hoaxes. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. According to the guilty plea, Dore sent a series of letters in December 2015 and January 2016 threatening agencies and persons working at offices in local, state and federal government. In four of the nine letters, he sent a white powder with the implication that it was toxic. The substance was later tested and found not dangerous. He sent letters to the Louisiana State Capitol to the attention of Governor John Bel Edwards, the Vermilion Parish Courthouse, the Lafayette Parish Courthouse, and U.S. Post Offices in New Iberia, Delcambre, Abbeville and Lake Charles.

Dore faces five years in prison, three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each count. The court set a June 9, 2017 sentencing date.

The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti is prosecuting the case.